RACE REPORTS: GP DE PLOUAY: GERRANS THE GREAT

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RACE REPORTS: GP DE PLOUAY: GERRANS THE GREAT
Road Bike Action
August 23, 2009

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Simon Gerrans (Cervélo) added a another big prize to his growing palmarés by out sprinting a five man breakaway in the closing meters of the GP de Plouay one day ProTour race in France. Gerrans powered pass last year's champion Pierrick Fedrigo (BBox-Bouyges Telecom) and Paul Martens (Rabobank). Up and coming rider Daniel Martin (Garmin-Slipstream) finished in fifth, proving his form is coming good just in time for his grand tour debut in the Vuelta a España. The breakaway finished just 3-seconds in front of a quick moving peloton led by Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne).

The race started slow, with the early break of the day going clear on the second of twelve laps. The breakaway contained Hector Gonzalez Baeza (Fuji-Servetto) Angel Mate Mardones (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) Jerome Pineau (Quick Step) and Laurent Lefevre (BBox-Bouyges Telecom). By the end of the lap the break had a gap of over 9-minutes and on the third lap their lead peaked at just over 12-minutes. Despite the large gap the break was not going to stay clear as the Lampre and Astana teams gave chase, eventually closing the gap on the ninth lap.

Next to attack was World Champion Alessandro Ballan. Ballan pulled clear Maxim Iglinsky (Astana), Michael Albasini (Columbia-HTC), (BBox-Bouyges Telecom) and Cyril Gautier (BBox-Bouyges Telecom). The group worked well together but was never able to get more than 15-seconds on the chasing peloton and were brought back with 35-kilometers to go. As the peloton approached the final lap Thomas Voeckler (BBox Bouyges Telecom) tried one of his trademark solo attacks before being quickly reeled back.

Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto), Robert Gesink (Rabobank) and Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) were the next to go free and were impressively joined by a determined Voeckler. Again the break was never given more than a few seconds and as the kilometers counted down the peloton regrouped for what a appeared to be a sprint finish.

As the peloton enter Plouay, Gesink attacked again taking Gerrans and Fedrigo with him. The peloton again pulled the break back. Despite the pelotons tight reign Gerrans pulled eight riders clear with a vicious attack with 5-kilometers remaining. In the final meters Fedrigo was forced to front and provided a perfect, if unwanted lead out to Gerrans.

GP de Plouay, 229km
1. Simon Gerrans (Aus/Cervelo) 5:58:53
2. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra/BBox-Bouygues Telecom) @ s.t.
3. Paul Martens (Ger/Rabobank)
4. Anthony Roux (Fra/Française Des Jeux)
5. Daniel Martin (Irl/Garmin-Slipstream)
6. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) @ .03
7. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra/Cofidis)
8. Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz/Astana)
9. Frédéric Guesdon (Fra/Française Des Jeux)
10. Jesus Del Nero (Spa/Fuji-Servetto)

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